Well its 48*f right now and wet! Going to be wet for a long time it seems. Anyway, We do not have run ins for the horses and I am wondering about turn out for them. They both have med weight blankets 1000D and above. What do you all think? Will they be miserable? I bring them in at night and turn them out in the day, but man its non stop right now.

CLaPorte432

11-17-2012 11:40 AM

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1000D would be the strength of the blanket, not how warm it actually is.

Make sure they are waterproof.Posted via Mobile Device

Saranda

11-17-2012 11:44 AM

48 is warm! I bet your horses will be ok. Are they clipped? If not, I wouldn't bother about the blankets. We have some shelters in our barn, but the horses couldn't care about them less. If your horses are healthy and get enough hay (roughage helps them to keep warm, preferably, if they get it free-choice), their natural thermoregulation will take excellent care of them.

nvr2many

11-17-2012 11:44 AM

Ah yes, thank you, that is right. Forgot that didn't mean waterproof. Yes both are waterproof. One a Rhino and other Kensington. Guess I just wondered if they preferred to stay in a cozy stall. One is not all that big.

Catpeedontherug

11-17-2012 11:45 AM

HA! From the thread title, I just knew you had to have been in the PNW. lol.

When I lived on the west side I was obsessed with blanketing and getting it right, so I understand your concern.
(I'm on the east side now and don't really have to blanket..such a relief!)

I like your plan of out in the day, in at night. Do they have shelter for the day?
I'm sure you know that taking the blankets off are really good for them, but putting them back on wet is bad bad bad.

Listen/watch them..what do they seem to be needing?

West side horse keeping is difficult in the winter!

nvr2many

11-17-2012 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saranda
(Post 1761592)

48 is warm! I bet your horses will be ok. Are they clipped? If not, I wouldn't bother about the blankets. We have some shelters in our barn, but the horses couldn't care about them less. If your horses are healthy and get enough hay (roughage helps them to keep warm, preferably, if they get it free-choice), their natural thermoregulation will take excellent care of them.

Not if your soaking wet and its blustering wind its not! LOL, at least not for me. One is a hard keeper, really spend a lot to keep weight on him and the mare, well, I am not sure yet. We just got her a month ago.

Saranda

11-17-2012 11:47 AM

Just to compare - it is 32-35*f here now, day and night, raining often and getting colder. During winter it will get down to -13*f and lower, but the horses keep living outside, not caring about the weather and the shelters, not blanketed, happily sleeping in snow, munching on free-choice hay and keeping themselves warm. Hard keepers, pregnant mares, foals and oldies included. You wouldn't believe, how perfect is their ability to heat themselves. ;)

Don't compare your feelings towards the weather with that of your horses - they function completely different from human bodies and they really perceive low temperatures differently. Besides, their coats don't let them to soak through if they are not clipped.

nvr2many

11-17-2012 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catpeedontherug
(Post 1761595)

HA! From the thread title, I just knew you had to have been in the PNW. lol.

When I lived on the west side I was obsessed with blanketing and getting it right, so I understand your concern.
(I'm on the east side now and don't really have to blanket..such a relief!)

I like your plan of out in the day, in at night. Do they have shelter for the day?
I'm sure you know that taking the blankets off are really good for them, but putting them back on wet is bad bad bad.

Listen/watch them..what do they seem to be needing?

West side horse keeping is difficult in the winter!

Ah, someone that understands, ha ha ha. No shelter if I put them in the turn out. I did have pasture taped off for them that had trees but took that down because when its really wet they tear it up! So, turnout it is. We will be building a run in next year I hope but for now this is it.

Just to compare - it is 32-35*f here now, day and night, raining often and getting colder. During winter it will get down to -13*f and lower, but the horses keep living outside, not caring about the weather and the shelters, not blanketed, happily sleeping in snow, munching on free-choice hay and keeping themselves warm. You wouldn't believe, how perfect is their ability to heat themselves. ;)

So your saying non stop rain, for days on end will not bother them? I spend hundreds of dollars keeping weight on my TB so that scares me too. With no shelter it does not seem all that great! I will turn them out this morning and just watch them to see how they act.
Oh the joys or living in Oregon!!!